Aldis Lamp
An Aldis lamp is a device that uses flashes of light to send messages in Morse code. It was invented by Arthur Webb Aldis, a British engineer, in 1944. Aldis lamps are often used for communication between ships and aircraft, especially when radio signals are not available or reliable.
Aldis lamps work by opening and closing shutters or tilting a mirror in front of a lamp. The operator can create short and long flashes, which correspond to dots and dashes in Morse code. The receiver can read the message by using a telescope or binoculars. Aldis lamps can transmit messages over long distances, depending on the weather and visibility conditions.
Aldis lamps have a long history of use in the military and civil aviation. They were first used by the Royal Navy in the late 19th century, and later by other navies and air forces around the world. They are still used today as a backup method of communication in case of radio failure.
Daylight Signalling Lamps
A daylight signalling lamp is a device that uses flashes of light to communicate in Morse code. It is often used for maritime and aviation purposes, when radio signals are not available or reliable.
A daylight signalling lamp consists of a lamp, a shutter or a mirror, and a sight. The operator can create short and long flashes by opening and closing the shutter or tilting the mirror. The receiver can read the message by using a telescope or binoculars.
Daylight signalling lamps have been used since the late 19th century by various navies and air forces around the world. They are still used today as a backup method of communication in case of radio failure.
Also read: 7 requirements of Aldis lamp you should know.
Daylight signalling lamps are required for certain ships according to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft. They have to meet certain performance standards, such as luminous intensity, chromaticity, and durability.
Now, after reading about them, you are surely wondering that these two things are exactly the same. But let us point out a few differences between these two devices.
The Difference
Aldis lamps and daylight signalling lamps are both devices that use light signals to communicate between ships, or between ship and shore, both by day and night. They are required by international regulations for certain ships, such as the SOLAS, the HSC Code, and the Torremolinos Protocol.
However, there are some differences between them:
1) Aldis lamps are a specific type of daylight signalling lamps, named after Arthur Cyril Webb Aldis, who patented a small hand-held design in 1944.
Daylight signalling lamps are a more general term that can refer to any lamp that meets the performance standards and requirements adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2000.
2) Aldis lamps typically use a halogen or LED bulb as the light source.
Daylight signalling lamps can use other types of illuminants, such as limelight or kerosene.
3) Aldis lamps usually have a telescopic sight or a laser pointer to assist in aiming.
Daylight signalling lamps may have other types of sighting mechanisms, such as a fixed attitude parallel to the optical axis.
4) Aldis lamps are often positioned on the bridge wing of maritime vessels.
Daylight signalling lamps can be mounted on a pedestal or a tripod, and can be fixed or portable.
